“She lives on beneath everything I do. Her presence influenced who I was and her absence influences who I am.” —Hope Edelman, Motherless Daughters

The loss of one’s mother leaves a void and longing that lasts a lifetime.

My guest for this month’s interview, Cara Belvin, was 9 years old when her mother died at age 37. After decades of silent grieving, Cara embraced her pain and used it to help others.

She founded empowerHER, an organization that supports girls who have also experienced the early loss of their mothers.

To complement my powerful conversation with Cara, for the May Book To Live By, I recommend:

Letters from Motherless Daughters: Words of Courage, Grief, and Healing by Hope Edelman

This book is a follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Motherless Daughters, in which Hope Edelman wrote about her own loss and healing. Her journey included extensive research and interviews with other motherless women.

Her stunning exploration prompted letters from hundreds of women of all ages sharing their stories of mother loss. Dozens of the letters are compiled in this book, chronicling the pain, hope and hard-won insights from this universal shared sorrow.

The book is divided into stages of grief, beginning with young women suffering recent losses and covering heartache and lessons that emerge over a lifetime. The letters bring wisdom and relief to those who feel alone in their anguish.

As we celebrate our mothers this week, let us also remember the motherless daughters. Letters from Motherless Daughters may be just the gift idea you are looking for.

Love,